The Brian Lehrer Show

Its a Mad, Mad World!

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

If the world were a Junior High School, would the United States be winning any popularity contests? Madeleine Albright, former secretary of state, says "no"--and she has some advice for our next president on repairing our reputation abroad. Also, we look at the state of free speech with a new biography on the First Amendment. Plus: Arthur Ashe’s wife talks about his legacy, and the latest in our food series - Mexican vs. American corn.

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Listen to the whole show

Speaking Up for Speaking Out

Anthony Lewis, talks about his new book on our nation's sometimes conflicted relationship with free speech.

Freedom for the Thought That We Hate: A Biography of the First Amendment is available for purchase at Amazon.com.

It's a Mad, Mad World!

Madeleine Albright, former secretary of state under Bill Clinton and author, believes our nation has lost the moral high ground in world politics, and she has some advice for our next president on how to repair our reputation abroad and restore U.S. leadership on the world stage.

Memo to the President Elect: How We Can Restore America's Reputation and Leadership is available for purchase at Amazon.com.

Remembering Arthur Ashe

Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe talks about her late husband, tennis great Arthur Ashe, and his legacy covering sports, civil rights and AIDs education.

Listen to Arthur Ashe's call to the show in 1993

If you can't see the video click here

Something to Chew On: The Ways of Maize

Zarela Martinez, cookbook author and owner of Mexican Restaurant, Zarela, discusses the difference between American and Mexican corn and why Mexican corn is so hard to find.